Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi has unveiled the production version of its SU7 Ultra, positioning the battery-electric vehicle as the world’s most powerful and fastest road-going sedan with 1,527 hp and a top speed of 207 mph (333 km/h).
The latest addition to Xiaomi’s automotive lineup is set to rival established electric sports sedans such as the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and Tesla Model S Plaid.
Initially shown as a prototype earlier this year, the SU7 Ultra will reach the Chinese market by late 2024, with customer deliveries anticipated to begin during the first half of 2025.
At the presentation of the SU7 Ultra’s unveiling in Beijing, Xiaomi’s founder and chairman, Lei Jun, announced a starting price of RMB 814,900 ($111,700) for the new model.
By comparison, the Taycan Turbo GT retails at $230,000.
The all-wheel-drive SU7 Ultra’s drivetrain comprises three electric motors – two 570-hp synchronous motors on the rear axle and a smaller 387-hp synchronous unit at the front – producing a combined output of 1,527 hp or some 435 hp more than the Taycan Turbo GT and 507 hp more than the Model S Plaid.
Xiaomi claims acceleration times of 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 1.98 seconds, 0-124 mph (200 km/h) in 5.86 seconds, alongside an official range of 385 miles (620 km/h) per charge under the Chinese CLTC test cycle.
The claimed 207-mph top speed beats the official figures of the Taycan Turbo GT and Model S Plaid by a respective 27 mph (43 km/h) and 32 mph (52 mph).
The new Chinese sedan is built on Xiaomi’s Modena platform using an 800V architecture powered by a CATL lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 93.7 kWh.
Key structural and performance modifications were made in collaboration with the U.K.-based engineering firm ProDrive, marking a shift from Xiaomi’s previous SU7 models. The braking system uses carbon ceramic discs measuring 16.9 ins. at the front and 16.1 ins. at the rear. They are claimed to bring the car to a complete stop from 62 mph in 101 ft. (315 m).
Xiaomi also reports that the lightweight ProDrive prototy/pe of the SU7 Ultra, equipped with a carbon-fiber body, recently set a record at the Nürburgring for the fastest lap by a 4-door sedan, clocking in at 6 minutes, 46.874 seconds.
The production version of the Chinese performance sedan features a less-extravagant aerodynamic and cooling package than the SU7 prototype, with a smaller front splitter, altered hood and milder-looking carbon fiber rear wing in combination with an active diffuser that tilts through an angle of 16 degrees for added downforce.
The Chinese car maker has not provided a definitive weight figure for its latest model, but says it tips the scales under 5,291 lbs. (2,400 kg).
With the SU7 Ultra, Xiaomi signals a serious entry into the high-performance electric-vehicle market, but its success will likely depend on its reception beyond the domestic Chinese market as it aims to challenge performance-car mainstays such as Porsche, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.
Jun previously confirmed Xiaomi is pursuing export plans for the SU7, but he says they won’t begin until Xiaomi has a broader lineup of models. In 2025, the Chinese automaker plans to unveil its first SUV model based on the same platform and drivetrain technology as its initial sedan.
